Cushion the blow

As Britain prepares for a winter of discontent, take comfort in this cheerful collection of pillows, rugs and blankets

Your home may be looking festive now, but when the tinsel comes down, neutral interiors can acquire a Dickensian gloom: less Osborne & Little, more the debtors' prison in Little Dorrit. Something about our watery winter light makes whole rooms succumb to the interiors equivalent of seasonal affective disorder. A dose of colourful textiles, however, will soon bring back the sunshine. Cushions, woolly blankets, chenille throws, felt rugs and woven-silk wall hangings are the mood-enhancing route to a swift and inexpensive transformation from Bleak House to cosy chic.